Starter motor generator coupling

ABSTRACT

A starter motor having an armature shaft that is connected to the flywheel of an internal combustion engine by mechanical driving connections to drive the flywheel from the motor. However, when the motor is to be driven from the engine this mechanical drive is disabled and a fluid coupling is rendered effective to convert the motor to a generator.

United States Patent Kevin L. Price 22516 Wanamaker PL, Detroit, Mich.48223; James C. Le Blane, 39384 West Archer, Mt. Clemens, Mich. 48043[21] Appl. No. 66,733

[72] Inventors [22] Filed Aug. 25, 1970 [45] Patented Nov. 2, 1971 [54]STARTER MOTOR GENERATOR COUPLING 8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs. [52] U5. Ci290/46 [51 Int. Cl H02k 23/52 [50] Field oiSearch 290/] C,

22, 31, 46, DIG. l, DIG. 9, DIG. ll

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,504,833 4/1950 Hann290/46 UX 2,703,847 3/1955 Kaiikow 290/46 Primary ExaminerT. E. LynchAssistant Examiner-W. E. Duncanson, Jr. Attorney-Scheilin and Hoffmangine this mechanical drive is disabled and a fluid coupling is renderedeffective to convert the motor to a generator.

PATENTEBNUV 2 l97l 7 3.617. 762

INVENTORSS KEVIN L. PRICE 8 ATTORNEYS YJMW .55 @a/ JAMES c LEBLANC" metwith little if any public acceptance.

STARTER MOTOR GENERATOR COUPLING The present invention relates to thestarter motor of a conventional internal combustion engine such as isnormally included in a motor vehicle and is concerned primarily with thedriving connections between the armature shaft of the motor and theflywheel of the engine whereby the shaft may be driven from the flywheelto constitute the motor a generator.

aacxoaouun or Tits INVENTION A starter motor is included in just aboutevery motor vehicle to start the internal combustion engine thereof. Theengine and vehicle also include many electrical devices which are runfrom the battery of the vehicle. A generator is normally provided tocharge the battery and the generator is operated by the engine.

Due to the fact that every electric motor may also be operated as agenerator, depending on whether power is taken from the annature shaftor delivered thereto it has long been recognized that the motor maybef'converted to a generator to charge the car battery. However} all ofthe known arrangements provided for this purpose have included some formof mechanical drive from the engine flywheel to the armature shaft.

Due to the need of providing a proper and often variable gear ratio inthis drive the devices now available are extremely complex and, asidefrom the difficulties attending installation are prone to become out oforder. For this reason they have OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION With theforegoing conditions mind the present invention has in view thefollowing objects: I

To provide, in the combination of an internal combustion engineincluding a flywheel and a starter motor including an armature shaft, afluid coupling which is ineffective when the shaft drives the flywheel,but which is rendered effective when the flywheel drives the shaft.

2. To provide, in a combination of the type noted, a fluid couplingwhich automatically becomes effective when the flywheel achieves apredetermined speed at which time the mechanical drive from the shaft tothe flywheel is disabled.

3. To provide, in a combinationfof the type aforesaid a fluid couplingwhich may be adjusted to vary the gear ratio provided thereby by varyingthe quantity of fluid medium in the coupling.

4. To provide a combination of the kind described which may readily beinstalled in a motor vehicle; and

5. To provide, in a combination 'of the type noted, means for coolingthe fluid coupling.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention suchas arise in connection with carrying out the above noted ideas in apractical embodiment will in part become apparent and in part behereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION Theforegoing objectives are achieved byproviding a unit included in a casing which is adapted for installationbetween the starter motor and the internal combustion engine of a motorvehicle. This unit comprises a stub shaft drivably carrying a turbineelement and having means at one end for drivably connecting it to oneend of the armature shaft of the motor and an element of an overiunningclutch at the other end. A second stub shaft is journaled in the casingand carries at its inner end a complements] element of the overrunningclutch and at its outer end a pinion that meshes with a gear on theengine flywheel. lntermediateiits ends a second turbine elementisdrivably mounted on the second stub shaft and cooperates with thefirst turbine element in establishing the drive from the flywheel to thearmature shaft.

Provision is made for introducing a fluid medium into the casing anddraining it therefrom. Cooling devices such as a jacket for a liquidcooling medium which is attached to the exterior of the casing or finsformed on the casing are optionally utilized.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, referencemay be had to the following description and accompanying drawingwherein:

FIG. 1 is an axial section through the casing and unit included thereinof this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken about on the plane of the line 2-2of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts a starter motor is represented at 10. Motor 10includes an armature shaft 11 one end of which is formed with elementsof a spline connection as indicated at 12.

A casing is referred to generally as C. It comprises a casing part 13having an outstanding flange l4, and a reduced tubular portion 15terminating in an anchoring flange 16. The latter is formed withopenings 17 which accommodate bolts (not illustrated) which anchorcasing C on the frame of the starter motor. Cooling fins, one of whichis shown at 18 may be formed on the exterior of easing part 13. Thelatter is also formed with a drain aperture 19 that is normally closedby a threaded plug 20.

A second casing part 21 has an outstanding flange 22 that is clamped toflange 14 of easing part 13 by bolts 23. Casing part 21 has a reducedtubular portion 24 terminating at its free end in an upper flange 25 anda lower jacket wall 26. Flange 25 and wall 26 are formed with openings27 which accommodate bolts (not illustrated) which anchor casing C tostructure of the vehicle in which the unit is installed.

Jacket wall 26 is spaced from the adjacent portion of casing part 21 andis continued over the lower portion of the latter.

Wall 26 and casing part 21 define a chamber 28 which contains a coolingmedium represented at 29.

Mounted in tubular portion 15 of casing part 13 is a bearing 30 on eachface of which is a seal 31. A first stub shaft 32 is journaled inbearing 30 and its outer end is formed with elements of a splineconnection which are complemental to spline elements 12. Drivablymounted on shaft 30 is a turbine element 33. A ratchet 34 presentingteeth or shoulders 35 (FIG. 2) is carried at the inner end of shaft 30.

A bearing 36 is positioned in tubular portion 24 of easing part 21 witha seal 37 on each face thereof. A second stub shaft 38 is journaled inbearing 36 and drivably carries a pinion 39 on its outer end. Pinion 39meshes with a gear 40 that is carried by the flywheel of the engine ofthe vehicle in which the unit is installed. A second turbine element 41is drivably mounted on stub shaft 38. Received within turbine element 41and drivably mounted on stub shaft 38 is a ring 42. Pivoted on ring 42as indicated at 43 is a pawl 44 which cooperates with shoulders 35 ofratchet 34 when the drive is from armature shaft 11 to the flywheel.

Casing part 21 is formed with an aperture 45 at its top through which afluid medium is introduced into casing C. Aperture 45 is normally closedby a screw plug 46. The fluid medium is represented at 47.

OPERATION While the mode of operation of the subject unit is believed tobe obvious from the illustrations of the drawing and description ofparts set forth above it may be briefly outlined as follows:

It is first noted that the ignition switch of the vehicle which is keyoperated will include a switch that causes current to flow from thebattery to the starter motor when the latter is energized. With themotor 10 operating as a motor from the battery armature shaft 11 drivesstub shaft 32 through the spline connection 12. When this occursshoulder 35 of ratchet 34 engages pawl 44 to drive stub shaft 38 andpinion 39. As the latter meshes with gear 40 the flywheel is rotated tostart the engine.

After the engine is started the rpm. of the flywheel will exceed thoseof shaft 11. Under thiscondition pawl 44 will override shoulders 35 andthe mechanical drive to the flywheel is discontinued. At this pointturbine element 41: is rendered effective to drive turbine element 33with the power beingtransmitted by fluid medium 47. Turbine element 33now drives armature shaft 11 through stub shaft 32 and spline connection12. Thus motor is now constituted a charges the car battery.

The subject unit aflords the following advantages:

1. All danger of reengaging the starter motor with the flywheel afterthe engine is started is eliminated.

2. The necessity for a large number of parts is obviated. Thus there isno need for an alternate generator belt, brackets and mounting structurefor the generator.

3. The gear ratio provided by the fluid coupling may be adjusted byvarying the amount bf fluid medium 47 in casing C 4. The changeover fromthe drive to the flywheel from the armature shaft to the drive from theflywheel to the armature shaft is fully automatic. I

5. A device for reversing the direction of voltage to or from thebattery may be included in a voltage regulator.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbeforeset forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not tobe limited to the exact constructions, mechanisms and devicesillustrated and described because various modifications of these detailsmay be provided in putting the invention into practice.

What is claimed is:

1. In a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine having aflywheel with a gear thereon and a starter motor including an armatureshaft, a unit providing driving connections between said shaft andflywheel comprising:

a. a casing including means for mounting the casing in said vehicle,

b. a first stub shaft journaled in said casing and drivably congeneratorwhich nected to said armature shaft,

0. an element of an overrunning clutch within said casing and drivablymounted on said shaft,

d. a first turbine element drivably mounted on said shaft within saidcasing,

e. a second stub shaft journaled in said casing and having a pinion onits outer end in driving relation to the flywheel,

f. an element of an overrunning clutch on the inner end of said secondstub shaft and cooperating with clutch element on the first stub shaft,

g. a second turbine element drivably mounted on said second stub shaftwithin the casing in confronting relation to said first turbine element,and

h. a fluid medium in said casing cooperating with said turbine elements,

whereby the drive from the armature shaft to the flywheel is mechanicaland the drive from the flywheel to the armature shaft is through thefluid coupling provided by the turbine elements and fluid medium.

2. The unit of claim 1 in which the elements of the overrunning clutchtake the form of a ratchet on one stub shaft and a pawl on the otherstub shaft.

3. The unit of claim 1 together with a cooling device carried by thecasing.

4. The unit of claim 3 in which the cooling device takes the form of ajacket on the casing and a cooling medium therein.

5. The unit of claim 3 in which the cooling device takes the form offins on the exterior of the casing.

6. The unit of claim 1 in which the casing is formed with an aperturefor introducing a fluid medium thereinto and a drainage aperture.

7. The unit of claim 1 in which the casing comprises two parts clampedtogether with each part having a tubular portion, said stub shafts beingjournaled in said tubular portions.

8. The unit of claim 1 in which the armature shaft is joined to thefirst stub shaft by a spline co r ine ction.

1. In a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine having aflywheel with a gear thereon and a starter motor including an armatureshaft, a unit providing driving connections between said shaft andflywheel comprising: a. a casing including means for mounting the casingin said vehicle, b. a first stub shaft journaled in said casing anddrivably connected to said armature shaft, c. an element of anoverrunning clutch within said casing and drivably mounted on saidshaft, d. a first turbine element drivably mounted on said shaft withinsaid casing, e. a second stub shaft journaled in said casing and havinga pinion on its outer end in driving relation to the flywheel, f. anelement of an overrunning clutch on the inner end of said second stubshaft and cooperating with clutch element on the first stub shaft, g. asecond turbine element drivably mounted on said second stub shaft withinthe casing in confronting relation to said first turbine element, and h.a fluid medium in said casing cooperating with said turbine elements,whereby the drive from the armature shaft to the flywheel is mechanicaland the drive from the flywheel to the armature shaft is through thefluid coupling provided by the turbine elements and fluid medium.
 2. Theunit of claim 1 in which the elements of the overrunning clutch take theform of a ratchet on one stub shaft and a pawl on the other stub shaft.3. The unit of claim 1 together with a cooling device carried by thecasing.
 4. The unit of claim 3 in which the cooling device takes theform of a jacket on the casing and a cooling medium therein.
 5. The unitof claim 3 in which the cooling device takes the form of fins on theexterior of the casing.
 6. The unit of claim 1 in which the casing isformed with an aperture for introducing a fluid medium Thereinto and adrainage aperture.
 7. The unit of claim 1 in which the casing comprisestwo parts clamped together with each part having a tubular portion, saidstub shafts being journaled in said tubular portions.
 8. The unit ofclaim 1 in which the armature shaft is joined to the first stub shaft bya spline connection.